It was one of those coincidences that sometimes occur. Someone mentioned that in the Dominican Republic there existed transparent kayaks which allowed one to see the bottom of the Caribbean Sea with total clarity. The dream of every lover of underwater contemplation. In the bay of Sant Pol in Sant Feliu de Guixols, the rocks extend their tentacles to the depths, like large stone icebergs. Would it not be worth it to float on the water like a pensive jellyfish?
The people from the sailing school of Sant Pol started a search that would lead them to Hawaii, where the brand Clear Blue Hawaii manufactures these oddities for recreational navigation. It has taken two years for them to arrive, but finally today we’re going on our trip; in fact, these are the first transparent kayaks available in Catalonia.
Emotions are running high, with the boats still wrapped in the sand. Their appearance, glassy, like Cinderella’s shoe, arouses great interest among the people walking on the beach in the morning. Reality reappears intact on the other side of the walls of the new kayaks. It seems one is suddenly endowed with the power of super vision. The sand grains appear like dots from a pencil under the floor of the boat. The houses around us, even the small colourful wooden changing rooms so typical of San Pol continue looking like a mirage, despite the curious material lodging under the boat. Some people touch the fibre to try to understand what they perceive with the eye.
The rising sun appears like a flag at half-mast, the water is as flat as it usually is on the morning of nice days, and, above all, the sea exudes a sense of calm. In front of us, one of the instructors of the school points towards the horizon that opens before us. This decisive gesture leads the expedition. On the left, we leave the Hostal de la Gavina. A wide-brimmed hat will protect our eyes from the glare on the water. Our arms tighten as we try to find the right inclination for our paddles in the density of the sea. The boat has a very low centre of gravity. Unlike common kayaks, where the centre of gravity is above the waterline, the design of the boat keeps the weight of the pelvis below the water level. In addition, its width is exaggerated almost to the point that we bend our legs as the Indians do, which for my taste is one of the most comfortable positions. All in all, there is a sense of stability. We advance slowly, in a contemplative way rather than for sport.
We are in luck, because this year the sand in the depths of the sea reveals an old wreck. At first glimpse it is hard to discern the boat in a sea of greenish water. We fold our necks like cormorants and eventually learn to look through that giant magnifying glass that is the base of our canoe; yes, there, in the background, we clearly see the outline of wooden ribs belonging to a ship with bad luck.
We continue the tour parallel to the coastal path (the GR -92), towards the end of the Punta del Pau. The landscape appears crammed with sea urchins, sea grass, sea tomatoes, and some fish. Everything seems larger and closer than it really is. We are in no rush. The boat has two seats, but we are only using one, so at some point lying on a bed of glass and letting the sea rock you is an inevitable temptation. I put the hat on my face to avoid any hint of annoyance. I wonder why no one has thought of transparent kayaks before.//
ESCOLA DE VELA I KAYAK SANT POL
609 070 996
Platja Sant Pol - S’Agaró
SANT FELIU DE GUÍXOLS
velasantpol.com
Regular kayak price: 2 hours - 25 euros kayak + snorkel.
Transparent kayak price: 1h 30 min - 35 euros. Check out: from 9.30 to 11am (to take advantage of the calm water). Available all year by appointment. Guide required. Public sale price of the kayak: 2,000 €
